The next morning, Zeema woke up at five o'clock.
The sky outside was still soft and pale, the city only beginning to wake up. From the balcony of her eighth-floor apartment, the early morning breeze drifted in quietly.
She tied her hair into a loose ponytail and walked into her home gym in study space.
For the next forty minutes, the room filled with the steady rhythm of her workout—stretching, light weights, and a short treadmill run. It wasn't intense, but it was enough to wake her body and clear her mind.
By the time she finished, the sun had started to rise over the buildings of VelNagar.
After a quick shower, Zeema walked into the kitchen wearing comfortable house clothes.
Cooking for herself didn't bother her. In fact, she preferred it.
She cracked two eggs into the pan, carefully making sunny-side eggs, then toasted two slices of bread. The smell of chicken sausages sizzling in the pan filled the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she carried her simple breakfast to the dining table.
Eggs. Toast. Sausages. Coffee.
After finishing breakfast, Zeema took her cup of coffee and walked into her study area.
The room looked exactly how she liked it—organized but lived in.
She sat down in her chair, opened her laptop, and began checking her emails.
Most of them were reports from the managers in charge of her companies. Since she was still young and inexperienced, the daily operations were handled by professionals her uncle trusted.
Still, Zeema liked to read the reports.
Not because she had to.
Because she wanted to understand.
Her eyes moved calmly across the screen.
Profit reports. Supply updates. Meeting summaries.
Just as she started replying to one of the emails, her phone suddenly vibrated on the desk.
Incoming Video Call — Uncle
Zeema sighed softly before answering.
The screen lit up with the familiar cheerful face of her uncle.
"Oi, little one!" he greeted loudly, his voice full of energy.
Zeema leaned back slightly in her chair.
"Good morning to you too," she said calmly.
Her uncle narrowed his eyes immediately.
"Wait… wait a minute." He leaned closer to the camera suspiciously. "Why do you look so awake?"
"I usually do," Zeema replied.
"What time did you wake up?"
"Five."
There was a dramatic pause.
Then her uncle's voice exploded.
"FIVE?!"
Zeema quietly sipped her coffee.
"You woke up at FIVE in the MORNING?" he repeated, staring at her like she had committed a crime.
"Yes."
"Why?!"
"To wake up."
Her uncle groaned loudly and leaned back in his chair.
"This child will be the end of me."
Zeema didn't look particularly affected.
"What did you do after waking up?" he demanded.
"Exercise. Shower. Breakfast."
"That sounds normal," he admitted.
Then he squinted again.
"…And?"
"And now I'm checking emails."
His face instantly turned into pure horror.
"YOU'RE WORKING?"
"It's just reports."
"ZEEMA."
"Yes?"
"You are seventeen years old."
"Yes."
"You just moved into a new apartment yesterday."
"Yes."
"And today you are already working at six in the morning?"
She blinked calmly.
"It was seven."
"That does NOT make it better!"
Zeema rested her chin lightly on her hand.
"It's not work. I'm just reading reports."
"You're supposed to be enjoying your life!" he complained.
"I am."
"That is NOT enjoyment."
"It is for me."
Her uncle rubbed his forehead like he had a headache.
"Little one… I didn't move you to Chennai so you could start acting like a forty-year-old businesswoman."
"I'm only reading emails."
"That's still work!"
Zeema tilted her head slightly.
"You say that like the companies will stop existing if I read their reports."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is you should sleep more!"
"I slept seven hours."
"That is not enough."
"It's enough for me."
Her uncle stared at her for a few seconds before sighing dramatically.
"You are too calm for someone who is being scolded."
Zeema smiled faintly.
"You're not really scolding me."
"I am!"
"You sound more worried than angry."
He paused.
"…That is also true."
Zeema's expression softened slightly.
"So," her uncle suddenly said, changing the topic, "how are you adjusting?"
He leaned forward again, his cheerful energy returning.
"Is the place to your liking? Do you like the apartment?"
Zeema glanced around her study.
"It's quiet," she said.
"And?"
"The view is nice."
"And?"
"I kind of like this place."
Her uncle looked relieved.
"Good."
"I thought you might complain."
"About what?"
"That the apartment is too big."
"It is big."
"And?"
"But it's comfortable."
He nodded approvingly.
"Did the assistant explain everything?"
"Yes."
"Did you check the rooms?"
"Yes."
"Kitchen?"
"Yes."
"Gym area?"
"Yes."
"Study area?"
"I'm sitting in it."
"Right."
He looked satisfied for a moment.
Then his eyes narrowed again.
"You're still reading those emails, aren't you?"
Zeema slowly closed the laptop.
"Happy?"
"Very."
"Good."
"Now listen to me carefully," he said seriously.
She waited.
"You are not allowed to overwork yourself."
"I won't."
"You are not allowed to skip meals."
"I won't."
"You are not allowed to stay up all night working."
"I won't."
"And you are definitely not allowed to become a boring adult before turning twenty."
Zeema raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds like a difficult rule."
"It's an important rule."
"I'll try."
"TRY HARDER."
A small laugh escaped her.
Her uncle blinked.
"Did you just laugh?"
"Maybe."
"I knew moving you to Chennai would help."
"Help with what?"
"Making you slightly more human."
Zeema shook her head lightly.
"You're very dramatic."
"I am a responsible guardian."
"You are dramatic."
He grinned.
"Anyway, classes start soon, right?"
"In a few days."
"Good."
"Until then," he said firmly, "go outside."
"For what?"
"Explore the city."
"I've seen cities before."
"Not this one."
Zeema looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Maybe I will."
"That's my girl."
There was a short pause before Zeema spoke again.
"When are you returning to the UK from the States?" she asked.
"Soon," he replied with a small smile. "Just finishing a few things here."
"Try not to overwork yourself," she said calmly.
Her uncle laughed.
"Did you just use my own advice against me?"
"Maybe."
The call ended a few minutes later.
The room returned to silence.
Zeema stared at her mobile for a moment before placing it slowly on the table.
Then she looked toward the window, where the sunlight had fully filled the room.
"…Maybe I should explore the city," she murmured.